Chipolopolo forward Fashion Sakala says the two international friendly matches were very important for the team in their preparations for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Al Fahya striker was very happy with the attitude and character of the players in the 3-2 loss to Angola on Tuesday.
“I think these two games were very important for us and for me the most important thing is the character that we’ve shown in these two games. Obviously we were missing some players, but the players that played these two games gave it all. And you can see the game that we played against Angola today, the character was there, the attitude was very good. We did everything we could to win the game, unfortunately we lost, but I’m super proud of the performance of the team,” he said.
“Yeah, we lost, but I think we gave everything. What I always tell them is that when you come to the national team, obviously you find people who have been there for a long time. like when i came to the national team i found people were there for a long time and they are no longer there so this is what we are doing we are doing it for the next generation and i’m so happy for them to be to be part of the national team and i think they did so well they are players who were given the chance and they showed that they deserve to be part of the national team they did so well and i spoke to some of the players that they should continue working hard obviously so that we can all make it to the final squad start the africa cup,” he added.
Austrian based Jack Lahne Kalichi started his first game for Chipolopolo on Tuesday and scored his first goal, the leveller at 20 minutes, making it 1-1.
Sakala was overcome with joy for Kalichi on his first goal for Chipolopolo as he feels the team can only win games if they are scoring goals.
The Chipolopolo camp was hit with a lot of issues from players withdrawing due to various reasons to alleged cases of food poisoning.
Sakala believes players need to show up for Camp when summoned; that’s the only way the team will prepare well for tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We can only win games with goals you know it’s very important for us to keep trying you know i’m so proud of jackie you know his first start and he got a goal i was i was so happy for him you know when celebrating we had to to hit each other so i’m so happy and you know it’s very important for us obviously to work on our finishing to get goals you know because we can only win games when we score so we need goals obviously uh toward the africa cup you know you have to work on that and it’s very important and i’m so proud that we get we’ve got goals but again uh we have to start winning games,” he said.
“We have a very good team to be honest but i think the commitment is what we need each and every player when you are called for the national team i think it’s very important to report you know you have to come to the national team i think that’s all what we need because like these these two games that we played we’ve missed some key players they were part of the list but they didn’t come to the national team i think when you’re called you just have to come because preparation is very important you know what we are doing during trainings that’s what will give us results at the africa cup so i think it’s very important for us to to meet early i believe the camp will be very early but i think all what i can say is all the players will be called they have to come in so that we can prepare together because africa cup the biggest tournament that we have in africa of course and uh we just have to perform well there we don’t we don’t want excuses when we go to the africa cup.”
Sakala was also quick to praise the fans for their continued support to the team no matter the state they are in.
“My message to the fans is just to appreciate them you know it’s a privilege of course to be part of the national team and uh to thank them for their support you know they have been there for us uh when we play home games the stadium is always full you know that shows that uh our fans are always there to support us i’m asking them to continue supporting us as we are going to the africa cup i’m asking them to follow us in morocco you know it’s always nice to play games when you know that your people are supporting you so it’s like it’s always a pleasure in the great honor to have our our fans behind us.”
